Find out how popular the last name Bark is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bark.

Bark, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bark surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bark in America

Bark is the 16041st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bark surname appeared 1,808 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bark.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bark to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bark

The surname BARK is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval era. This name is derived from the Old English word "barca," which referred to a type of tan or bark used in the tanning process of leather. The earliest recorded instances of the name BARK can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Barcarius" in Norfolk and Suffolk counties.

During the 13th century, the name BARK began to emerge in various regions of England, particularly in areas with a significant tanning industry. In Yorkshire, records show individuals with the surname BARK residing in the village of Barksland, which likely derived its name from the same root word.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname BARK was John Bark, a prominent tanner who lived in Nottinghamshire in the late 14th century. Another early mention of the name can be found in the Wiltshire Assize Rolls of 1377, where a certain William Bark was recorded as a resident of the village of Chippenham.

In the 16th century, the surname BARK was well-established in various parts of England, including Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. During this period, the name underwent several spelling variations, such as Barke, Barcke, and Barkker.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname BARK was Sir John Bark (1563-1638), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Staffordshire. He served as the High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1609 and was knighted by King James I in 1617.

Another notable figure with the surname BARK was Robert Bark (1622-1692), a prominent Puritan minister and author from Nottinghamshire. He wrote several influential works on religious subjects and served as the vicar of Salehurst in Sussex.

In the 18th century, the name BARK continued to be prevalent in various parts of England, with individuals bearing this surname found in counties such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Gloucestershire. One example is William Bark (1734-1805), a successful businessman and landowner from Yorkshire, who owned extensive estates in the region.

As the centuries passed, the surname BARK spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, carried by English immigrants and their descendants. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval tanning industry in England and the Old English word "barca."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bark

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bark.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bark was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bark has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bark was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bark, please contact us.

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